Manna Francis

[reviews_and_ramblings]

"I've been writing original slash since 2002 — or homoerotic fiction, gay fiction, m/m romance, yaoi, as you prefer. Original slash is my personal term of choice because I feel it best represents my writing in terms of style and what readers can expect to find there — original fiction following the stylistic traditions of slash fanfiction. Individual stories may or may nor be sexually explicit."

Manna Francis was born in Yorkshire, and has lived in the UK all her life. She studied biological sciences at the University of Oxford, where she met her future husband at a role-playing game. Since graduating, she has worked in universities and for the government, which in no way inspired any aspects of the Administration whatsoever. She now lives in the Midlands, with the same husband, two cats, and a taxidermied mohair goat in a glass case.

She would like to state for the record that she knows it's all true, because she made it up.

Manna Francis is a rare talent, and I devoured The Administration – it has all the things a writer and a story needs: compelling characters, deep psychological insight, consistent worldbuilding and the courage to look into the abyss of humanity (also, redeeming characters that seem irredeemable). She shows you how it’s done, and I admire her courage immensely. There’s no pandering to anybody in here – and that makes it an even more precious gift of a story. --Aleksandr Voinov

The Administration series blew me away when I read it online years ago, and it still does today. I’m collecting every instalment as it comes out in paperback and re-reading it. The first time through, I was stunned and excited by the Toreth / Warrick dynamic, but on later reading, I pick up far more of the world-building in the intriguing New London. The jewel for me as a reader, though, will always be the two leads, both individually and together. I probably find the men a little less sympathetic with each reading, or maybe I’m just absorbing more of the clever and complex nuances in the writing. But they and their flaws, desires and struggles are totally fascinating. Warrick, who is so controlled in public, whose intelligence and academic abilities are so superior, and yet whose need for submission makes him vulnerable and draws him irresistibly to Toreth. Toreth, whose blend of sociopath, anguished loner, and effective and committed interrogator makes him the most dangerous and theoretically the most emotionally alien of men. Yet so terribly attractive! Their relationship is the perfect example of one which shouldn’t work but does. What else? It’s a treat to read. Lovely prose, clean editing, and a rich cast of subsidiary characters. It was maybe my first awakening to a book that could include a hot, provocative gay affair, yet wasn’t all about the sex. There were so many other themes to explore in the novel – work, politics, loyalty, betrayal, pain and pleasure. --Clare London

Further Readings:

Mind Fuck by Manna Francis
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (October 29, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081086
ISBN-13: 978-1934081082
Amazon: Mind Fuck

Series:
Quid Pro Quo (2008)
Amazon: Quid Pro Quo
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (May 27, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081094
ISBN-13: 978-1934081099

Games & Players (2008)
Amazon: Games & Players
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081108
ISBN-13: 978-1934081105

Control (2009)
Amazon: Control
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (May 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081116
ISBN-13: 978-1934081112

Quis Custodiet (2009)
Amazon: Quis Custodiet
Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081124
ISBN-13: 978-1934081129

First Against the Wall (2010)
Amazon: First Against the Wall
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: Casperian Books LLC (May 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934081132
ISBN-13: 978-1934081136

There are no bad guys or good guys. There are only better guys and worse guys. One of the worse guys is Val Toreth. In a world in which torture is a legitimate part of the investigative process, he works for the Investigation and Interrogation Division, where his colleagues can be more dangerous than the criminals he investigates. One of the better guys is Keir Warrick. His small corporation, SimTech, is developing a "sim" system that places users in a fully immersive virtual reality. A minnow in a murky and dangerous pond, he is only beginning to discover how many compromises may be required for success. Their home is the dark future dystopia of New London. A totalitarian bureaucracy controls the European Administration, sharing political power with the corporations. The government uses violence and the many divisions of the feared Department of Internal Security to maintain control and crush resistance. The corporations fight among themselves, using lethal force under the euphemism of "corporate sabotage," uniting only to resist attempts by the Administration to extend its influence over them. Toreth and Warrick are more natural enemies than allies. But mutual attraction and the fight for survival can create unlikely bonds.

More Spotlights at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Lists/Gay Novels

Comments

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Hi, Elisa!

Once more one of my favorite authors. Thank you!

Manna Frances writes a totally gripping and believable dystopia. And Toreth and Warrick are beyond intense.

If someone is worried about the fact that this is a long series, she/he shouldn't: just read the first volume (and get hooked ;-)!

I'd like also to spend a word about Casperian Books: this independent publishing house produces high quality, lovely books with wonderful covers.

Ciao

Antonella

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

LOL I'm picking them one by one? we will see what the future is saving for the list ;-)

yes Casperian Books publishes only few books per year but they are really high quality

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Once more, the quickest answer in the West ;-)

Yes, lately you picked up a few authors I really love. In fact there are also authors I like, but the ones I love are not so many...

Have a nice day!

Greetings from rainy Switzerland

A

[lusiology.livejournal.com]

I have all her books. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful.

Have you seen the fan art on my little comm?

http://community.livejournal.com/shades0fgrey/tag/fanart

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't, but I will be ready to cover my lack ;-)

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite authors and very rare auto-buys.

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

I'm actually re-reading this series right now. The genre isn't my thing at all, in fact, it's one of my major squicks, but Manna's storytelling is so good, I can't put the books down once I start. She really is that good.

(I've bought mine from The Book Depository (http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/); they're much cheaper than Amazon.com because of the free shipping.)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I use the Amazon links to know how many people click on them to search more info, so that I can compile the Top 10 of the month. If you then buy the book somewhere else cheaper, for me is fine ;-)

[hpstrangelove.livejournal.com]

I love this series - it's my 'desert island' book, although it would be hard to pick which one I would take.

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

This is an extraordinary series. I loved it online and I bought all the well crafted paperbacks by Casperian Books.

Somehow I wouldn't have thought it could be something for me, but I was very wrong.

Still longing for Book 8...

Thank you for this entry, dear Elisa!

Ciao

Antonella